Brake for vehicles.



No. 771,929. PATENTED OCT. 11, 1904-.

0. F. PERSSON. BRAKE FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21. 1903.

Witnesses: Inventor Otto F. Derss on.

UNITED STATES Patented October 11, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

OTTO F. PERSSON, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BRAKE FOR VEHICLES- SPECIFIGATION forming partof Letters Patent N 0. 771,929, dated October 11, 1904.

Application filed May 21, 1903. Serial No. 158,116. (No model.)

To aZZ whom itmay concern:

Be it'known that I, O'r'ro F. PERSSON, aciti- Zen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in

the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brakes for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanically-op-f erated brakes for self-propelling vehicles, and

it involves novel features of construction for rendermg the action-0f the brake positive and reliable and for affording means whereby the, wear of the brake-shoes can be compensated for in order to preserve the proper relation of the braking-surfaces.

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention attention is called to the accompanying description and claims appended thereto.

In the accompanying drawings, representing one embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a view of a rear driving-wheel of an automobile, showing in section my improved brake construction applied to the rear axle thereof. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of the bearing-box for the driving-axle and on 'which parts of the brake are carried.

Similar reference-numerals indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents part of a driving-axle of an automobile, to which are keyed a bearing-sleeve 2 and a driving-wheel 3, the hub of which latter is enlarged into a brake-drum 4: of common construction. The driving-axle 1 revolves in a journal or bearing box 5, in which are arranged the usual antifriction-rollers 6. The bearing-box is formed of two parts, being split horizontally and secured by means of through-bolts 7, passing through registering bored lugs 8. Sidethrust of the axle relatively to its bearing is prevented by means of a thrust-washer 9, that engages an annular flange 10 of the bearingsleeve 2, and suitable fiber washers are inserted between the bearing-box and the brake-drum .4 at one end and the thrust-washer 9 at the other end.

The upper half of the bearing-box 5 forms a spring-seat and is provided with a plate portion 11, upon which the lower half or section of a vehicle-spring 12 is secured, by means of clips 13, in a well-known manner. 'The lower part of the bearing-box is provided with a depending supporting-arm 14 adjacent the end near to the brake-drum 4. To this arm are hinged symmetrically disposed brake shoes 15, that are arranged within the brake-drum ,4 and are adapted to frictionally engage the inner surface thereof.

The brake-shoes are constructed of ribbed plates 16, curved concentric to the brake-drum, and are approximately semicircular in extent, and upon the curved surface of these plates are secured segmental friction-pieces 17 preferably of wood, the manner of securing the same not being shown; but riveting or bolting the pieces to the plates may be desirable. The upper free end of each shoe-plate 1 6 is provided with a boss 18, interiorly threaded to receive the threaded stem of an adjustable cam-engaging member or plate 19, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. As seen in Fig. 1, these plates 19 are of square or polygonal form, so as to provide side surfaces that are adapted to engage with the vertical wall of the head of the brake-drum and be prevented from turning thereby. The adjusting of these members obviously takes place after removing the driving-wheel 3, when the me1nbers are free from the drum, so as to screw in either inward or outward direction. Between the cam-engaging members is arranged a cam 20, formed on or carried by the shaft 21, which is mounted in a bearing-plate 22, that forms the top plate for the vehicle-spring 12. The said plate is secured by means of the clips 13, which engage the ends thereof. To the end of cam-shaft 21 opposite that of the cam 20 is rigidly secured an offset arm 28, which connects with the foot-lever mechanism of the automobile in the usual manner. It will thus be seen that the cam-actuating de.-' vice is supported on the upper part, while the brake-shoes are Supported on the lower part, of the bearingbox, which is an arrangement aflording ready accessibility and removal of the parts for the purpose of inspection and repair. The brake-shoes are retained in operative position relatively to the cam by means of a helical extension-spring 2 that connects the shoeplates adjacent their upper ends. The braking-surface of the shoes is turned down evenly to conform to the contour of the drum, and the brake-shoes are hinged to the supporting-arm 14 in such a manner as to permit of their having a slight play, so that continuous contact of the braking-surfaces of the shoes with the inner braking-surface of the drum may be obtained.

To apply the brake, the foot-actuated lever 23 is brought into play to actuate the cam, and the latter moves the brakeshoes outwardly against the tension of the retainingspring 24: into frictional engagement with the drum, the operation taking place in the usual manner and producing the braking effect upon the driving elements according to the degree of tension to which the foot-lever mechanism is subjected. I

In the construction of brakes hitherto occasionally the brake-shoes had to be renewed in order to obtain efficient service, due to their wearing away; but by means of my invention the shoes can be adjusted from time to time to take up the Wear, so as to obviate the neeessity of renewing the shoes. Thus to compensate for the wear of the shoes the camen gaging members are screwed outwardly, so as to throw the braking-surface of the shoes into proper relation to the braking-surface of the drum, and thereby maintain their maximum braking effect. As hereinbetore mentioned, the adjusting of the cam-engaging members is accomplished only after first removing the driving-wheel from its axis.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a brake device, the combination of a brake-drum, brake-shoes for the same, actuating means for operating the brake-shoes, and an adjustable means carried by each of the brake-shoes and cooperating with the actuating means forseparately adjusting the brakeshoes relatively to the brake-drum.

2. In a brake device, the combination of a brake-drum, brake-shoes engaging the inner surface of the same, a cam for operating the shoes, and means carried by the shoes each being separately adjustable and cooperating with the cam for maintaining the proper relation of the shoes with the inner surface of the drum. I

3. In a brake device, the combination of a brake-drum, brake-shoes adapted to engage with the drum, independently-adjustable camengaging members on the shoes, and a cam device for operating the brake-shoes.

4c. In a brake device, the combination of a brake-drum, brake-shoes arranged within the drum, a cam for actuating the shoes, internally-threaded bosses on the shoes, and camengaging members adjustable in the bosses, the said members being adapted to interlock with the drum to prevent movement of the same in the bosses.

5. In a brake device, the combination of a brake-drum, and a brake-shoe comprising a shoe-plate having an enlarged portion or boss, and an adjustable member in the boss and provided with interlocking portions which are adapted to engage the wall of the drum.

6. In a brake device, a brake-shoe comprising a ribbed shoe-plate, segmental frictionpieces secured to the same, an internallythreaded enlarged portion or boss at one end of the plate, and an adjustable cam-engaging member arranged in the boss and provided with interlocking portions.

7. In a brake mechanism for self-propelled vehicles, the combination with adriving-axle and wheel keyed thereto, of a brake-drum secured to the wheel, a bearing-box for the axle having aremovable part, brake-shoes carried by the removable part of the bearing-box, means secured in fixed relation to the bearing-box for actuating the brake-shoes, and means cooperating with the actuating means for adjusting the shoes relatively to the drum.

8. In a brake mechanism for self-propelled vehicles, the combination with a driving-axle and wheel keyed thereto, of a hub brake-drum, a split bearing-box, antifriction-rollers in the same, a supporting-arm formed on the removable part of the bearing box, brake shoes hinged to the supporting-arm and removable therewith, and means for actuating the brakeshoes.

9. In abrake mechanism for self-propelled vehicles, the combination with a driving-axle and wheel keyed thereto, of a hub brake-drum, a split bearing-box for the axle, a supporting-arm depending from thelower or removable part of the bearing-box and formed integral therewith, brake-shoes hinged upon the supporting-arm and removable therewith, a cam for actuating the brake-shoes, and means for retaining the shoes in operative relation to the cam.

10. In abrake mechanism for self-propelled vehicles, the combination with a driving-axle and wheel keyed thereto, of a hub brake-drum,

a two-part bearing-box for the driving-axle, and a cam carried by the cam-actuatingmeans I0 a supporting-arm integral with the removable for operating the brake-shoes.

lower part of the bearing-box, shoes hinged In witness whereof I have hereunto set my upon the arm and removable therewith, a hand this 18th day of May, 1908.

spring-seat formed by the upper part of the bearing-boX,avehicle-springsupporteol there- OTTO PERSSON' on, a bearing-plate secured on the spring in Witnesses:

fixed relation to the spring-seat, a cam-actu- DUGALD MoK. MOKILLOP,

ating means journaled in the bearing-plate, JOHN J. WALKER. 

